The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-15
AN APPEAL.

ter and manifest opposition they have
organized against the Telegraph, W.
feel it to be our duty TO appeal to them
and to all the white Democrats il
Olachila parish to unite in the solution
of the gravest political problem which
has ever effected the South. We allude
to the problem of the negro's position
In our political parties. His position
at elections was settled by the Cons,i
tuition, and we have no desire to dis
cuss or interfere with that. 1t has been
settled and decreed, by the very na ture
OF things cooperating with The heroic
white men of the South that the negro
shall not control our governmental
affairs at elections. For his own good,
for the preservation Of our civilization
and all our inalienabe rights, we forced
which the Black Radicals had PLACED
nim-and thus solved, wisely and we'll,
one great branch of the negro problem.
But new phase OF the problem nec-
essarily arose when the question was
presented who should control the negro
vote? Rejecting men, even in the
midst Of the fight, apprehended and
dreaded this question and it was no
uncommon thing for the remark TO be
made that when the white people di-
vided, as they necessarily would do
sooner or later, there would be trouble
over the negro vote. It was freely
predicted that white men would fight
aud imbrue their hands in blood on
account of the negro vote. But still
worse result Than was ever predicted
followed. AS soon as all dagger from
! Carpet-baggers, Scalawags aud United
States bayonets ceased, a few resolute
men, actusted by burning love of
power and stimulated by conviction
| of non-resis,ance, determined to assume
| control of the negro vote and by supe-
| rior auducity to overawe all opposition
from the ,najority Of white Democrats.
The enterprise succeeded .vonderfuIiy-
beyond al expectations, until 1t is 40
| eXnggerntion 70 say that no feudal lord,
! no Russian autucrat; ever exercised
| more desEotic supremacy than do the
Political lords ~ tae present ,lmr.
But Notwithstanding the amazing
suc2ssa of this bold undertaking, there
il continual grumbliug on the part of
the disfrnnchiaed white men--fur tRrre
can tie no doubt that the system pur-
sued and upheld by she Rug does eff
feciuaily disfranchise every white man
in this parish who is not ringleaIer
nor minion Of the ring. 1t is nntural
and inevitable that white men should
object 10 being domineered over
through tho instrumeutaIlty Of negro
voters aud the most extreme ring man
must cOufess that he expects continual
opposition from tho snasse4 of white
men. What we now wish 10 do is to
appeal to the ring men to CEASE their
unjust and outrageous, though hitherto
successful, course nnd 10 abandon their
attempt to disfranchise the majority OF
their white fellow citizens. We do not
make any unreasonable appeal. On
the other baud, we desire to submit
this question to the dictates OF pure
reason. We desire to treat this Ques-
ton for the best interests Of all our
pcople-to solve the grave problem
that 80 deeply concerns the prosperity
and happiness Of our country.
1t must be admitted by every think
ing man that the course of the ring will
create permanent division, a wide
and horrible chasm between the white
men Of this parish aud Stale on the
very negro question on which, above
all others, they should he united und
solid. Arc we not right aud reesona-
bic GU this suhject? VIII not the use
of negro masses, By those who have
faculty for controlling them, 60 make
Democratic nominations, destroy ut
once the reputation, usefulness and in-
tegri,y of the party? There is but one
remedy to rescue us from This appalling
fate. II is the exclusion of negroes
from nominating conventions. This is
40 new proposition. Il is the result of
cool thought aud reflection in other
parishes It's well as ia Quachita Every
political problem, in FREQ and en-